NP 220
A country (Nicotiana rustica) tobacco variety of the northern and eastern plains, grown for hookah and chewing tobacco — a strong, hardy, high-nicotine leaf.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Tobacco
- Type
- Country (rustica) tobacco variety
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- About 100–120 days after transplanting
- Seed rate
- About 2.5–3 g per m² of nursery bed; ~100 m² of nursery per hectare
- Expected yield
- Cured leaf around 1,500–2,200 kg/ha of strong, high-nicotine leaf
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained alluvial loams of the northern and eastern plains
- Release
- A country (Nicotiana rustica) tobacco variety for the northern and eastern plains, for hookah and chewing use
About this variety
NP 220 is a country tobacco (Nicotiana rustica) variety of the northern and eastern Indian plains, grown for hookah and chewing tobacco rather than for cigarettes. Rustica is a different, hardier species from the FCV / bidi tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), with a shorter, stouter plant and a much higher nicotine content. NP 220 is transplanted like other tobacco and the whole plant is heap- or ground-cured.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeNursery September–October; transplant hardened seedlings November to December in the northern and eastern plains
- Seed rateAbout 2.5–3 g per m² of nursery bed; ~100 m² of nursery per hectare
- SpacingAbout 60 × 45 cm — closer than FCV, as rustica is a shorter plant
- Sowing methodTransplant hardened nursery seedlings one per hill onto well-manured, well-drained land
- IrrigationIrrigated at 10–15 day intervals through growth on the plains; a hardy crop that tolerates a missed irrigation better than FCV
- FertilizerHeavy farmyard manure plus a high nitrogen dose for a strong, full leaf; rustica is grown for body and nicotine, not curing quality
- HarvestingCut the whole plant at maturity when the leaves are thick and brittle; heap- or ground-cure, then dry and bundle for the hookah / chewing trade
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained alluvial loams of the Indo-Gangetic plains
- pH
- 6.5–8.0
Climate
- Climate
- A hardy rabi crop of the northern winter; tolerates cool weather and a light frost better than tabacco types, though a hard frost still harms it
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
About 100–120 days after transplanting
Expected yield
Cured leaf around 1,500–2,200 kg/ha of strong, high-nicotine leaf
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Management notes
- Manure and feed heavily; rustica is grown for a strong, high-nicotine leaf
- Rotate away from tobacco and other solanaceous crops; drain wet patches
- Keep TMV sanitation at every operation
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Hardy and less demanding than the FCV / bidi tabacco types
- A strong, high-nicotine leaf that suits the hookah and chewing markets of the northern and eastern plains
Things to consider
- A country (rustica) tobacco — not for cigarette / FCV use and not sold at Tobacco Board auctions
- The strong, high-nicotine leaf is a niche market; check local demand before planting a large area
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Uttar Pradesh
- Bihar
- West Bengal
- Punjab
Frequently asked questions
How is country (rustica) tobacco different from FCV tobacco?
Country tobacco is a different species, Nicotiana rustica, with a shorter, stouter plant and a much higher nicotine content than the Nicotiana tabacum used for FCV and bidi. It is grown for hookah and chewing tobacco in the northern and eastern plains, cured in heaps or on the ground rather than in a flue barn, and is hardier and less demanding to grow. It is not sold through Tobacco Board auctions.
Sourced from: ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), Rajahmundry, ICAR — All India Network Project on Tobacco. editorial policy.